Relocation Blues
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VOLUME 4 NUMBER 3 April 1996 Relocation Blues Last fall, shortly after we mailed the last issue of IGH, we we have done our best through the years to accumulate bookcases began a process which is still far from complete—the physical mov- and display cases which are both large and old (and thus more in keep ing of our collection of books, magazines, photos, courses, artifacts, ing with the collection), many of them had to be completely taken films, audiotapes, posters, videotapes, clippings, and other related apart and reassembled here in Anna Hiss. In addition, each of the materials to another location on the campus of the University of Texas many tens of thousands of books and magazines had to be individ- at Austin. Before, we were in Gregory Gym; now, we and the col- ually packed, moved to Anna Hiss, unpacked, and reshelved. lection are housed in Anna Hiss Gym. [please note our new mailing This sad tale isn’t intended to make anyone feel scary for address on the back page. The phone and fax us, because we love the collection and we would remain the same.] Gregory Gym was built in have moved it to its new home even if we had 1929, with substantial additions from the 1960s, had to do it a box at a time. The aim here is but it was in bad need of the renovation which merely to provide some context for our apolo- prompted our relocation. gy about the lateness of this issue. Normally, Our new quarters are less spacious than our intention is to publish a new issue every two they were in Gregory, and we are very cramped. or three months, depending on the quality of the On the positive side, our materials are primari- material we have on hand, but this time the task ly located in one room now, and so the place has of moving the collection—along with our usu- more of the feel of a library about it. In any case, ual responsibiities as faculty members here at we are grateful to have such a large room (over the university—has made us very late. Because 3000 square feet) in which to store and use the of the delay, we have lengthened the issue by collection and we am beginning to be able to find four pages. The addtional four pages allowed things again. Those who have never visited the us to include, in full, two of the longest, most collection no doubt have a hard time imagining interesting (although completely different) arti- how extensive it is and how much space it cles we have ever published. We hope you requires. To provide some context, imagine a accept our apology, enjoy this issue, and con- 3200 square foot room (40’ x 80’) with eleven tinue to support IGH. foot ceilings. Next, imagine approximately 70 large, brimful bookshelves arranged in tightly On another matter, we have been asked spaced rows or “stacks.” Finally, imagine boxes by quite a few readers to provide news of the of unpacked material piled on top of almost ever) young man we have been coaching—6'3”, 415 shelf up to the ceiling. (We are also fortunate to have another stor- pound Mark Henry. It would probably be safe to say that over the age space of approximately 1000 square feet down the hall and it is past nine or ten months, Mark has received more attention from the packed floor to ceiling with less frequently used items.) media—both print and electronic—than any competitive lifter since Before all this material could be moved to Anna Hiss Gym, Paul Anderson back in the 1950s. The pressure from the media of course, the bookcases on which it has rested for the past 15 years over the last months has been unprecedented for any iron gamer other or so had to be emptied and moved to their new location. Because than such bodybuilding legends as Steve Reeves and Arnold. IRON GAME HISTORY VOLUME 4 NUMBER 3 It began last spring with a long, flattering piece on the front length in most of the top bodybuilding magazines. page of the New York Times following Mark’s gold medal in the Pan Last week, he laughed and said he’d been interviewed so American Games in Argentina. Since that time he either has appeared many times that he was beginning to feel like he was running for or will appear on such television shows as Late Night With Conan something. Indeed, media pressure of this sort is enervating, but Mark O’Brien, The George Michael Sports Machine, The CBS Summer feels he owes it to the game to make himself available. In almost Sports Show, Prime Sports’ coverage of the 1996 National Weightlift- every article and television show, he manages to get across his mes- ing Championships, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, ESPN’s Pro- sage that drugs are not necessary for world class strength, and he told files, Primetime Live, and The Today Show. In the medium of print, an interviewer the other day that he felt much more kinship with he was profiled in a long story recently in USA Today, featured on the men who did their top lifting before 1960. He said that he con- the cover of Vanity Fair in a photo by the celebrity photographer sidered his top competitors in weightlifting today to be cheaters, pure Annie Liebowitz photographed by Life for their photo essay on bod- and simple, and that he knew he was in a fight that wasn’t fair. He ies in the Olympics, given a two page spread in U.S. News and World went on to say that even if he doesn’t win the gold (or any other) Report, featured twice in Outside magazine, covered at length in medal in Atlanta, he still believes that his way—the old way—is Newsweek, written about again in Sports Illustrated, and profiled at the best way. 2 IRON GAME HISTORY VOLUME 4 NUMBER 3 PATRON IRON GAME HISTORY VOL. 4 NO. 3 SUBSCRIBERS TABLE OF CONTENTS April 1995 John Balik, Vic Boff, Bill Brewer, Dean Page 1. Relocation Blues.. .Terry Todd Carnenares, James Compton, Robert Con- 3. Philadelphia to York.. John Fair ciatori, Mr & Mrs. Bruce Conner, Peter 18. Saga of Galen Gough. .GregTravis DeAngelis, Michael Dennis, Salvatore 27. Grapevine: OBSA Dinner . .Ken Rosa Franchino, Dr. Martin French, Dr. Peter George, Mike Graham, Fairfax Hackley, Norman Komich, Jack Lano, James Lorimer, Co-Editors . .Terry and Jan Todd Executive Editor. Dorothy J. Lovett Don McEachren, Dr. Walter Marcyan, Dr. Creative Consultant. Steve Bittick Spencer Maxcy, Juanita Peoples, Terry Business Manager. Kim Beckwith Robinson, John Roche, Ulf Salvin, In Mem- ory of Joe Santillo, Frederick Schutz, Harry Editorial Board . John Balik (Santa Monica Schwartz, Frank Stranahan, Dr. Ted Thomp- CA), Jack Berryman (U. of Washington-Seattle), Vic Boff son, Frank Tirelli, Kevin Wade, Joe Weider, (Fort Meyers, FL). John Fair (Auburn University- Fred Yale, Harold Zinkin. Montgomery, AL) William H. Goetzmanu (U. of Texas- Austin), John Grimek (York, PA), John Hoberman (U. of FELLOWSHIP SUBSCRIBERS Texas-Austin), Joe Roark (St. Joseph, IL), Al Thomas (Kutztown Univ.), Dave Webster (Irvine, Scotland). Anonymous, Joe Assirati, Bob Bacon, John Benson, Alfred C. Berner, Mike BonDurant, Howard Bovell, Bernard Iron Game History is published by the McLean Sport History Fellow- ship at the University of Texas at Austin. Address: Terry and Jan Todd, the Todd Brand, Jerry Byrd, Massimo Capoccioni, Al Christensen, McLean Collection, Anna Hiss Gym 107, The University of Texas at Austin, Vera Christensen, Bill Clark, Jim Clark, Dr. Gerald Coles, Austin, Texas, 78712. Telephone: 512-471-4890. Fax: 512-443-0381 Martha Deal, Bob Delmontique, Lucio Doncel, Marvin U.S. Subscription rate: $20.00* per six issues, $35.00* for twelve issues, Eder, William Eubanks, Stephen Galya, James Gray, James $50.00 for twelve issue McLean Fellowship membership, $100.00 per twelve issue McLean Fellowship Patron's subscription. (Additional information can be Hammill, Howard Havener, Dykes Hewett, Marvin Hol- found on page 24.) Address all subscription requests to: IGH Subscriptions, lan, Raymond Irwin, Harold Kendell, Sol Lipsky, Dr. John Anna Hiss Gym 107, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas. 78712. Long, Rolan Malcolm, Louis Mezzanote, Torn Minichiel- *Canada and other foreign subscriptions add $5.00 (U.S.) per six issue lo, Joseph Mullen, Bill Nicholson, Susana R. Nixon, Joe subscription. Back issues: $4.00 each. Ponder, Dr. G. L. Porter, Joseph Puleo, Dr. Ken “Leo” Rosa, John T. Ryan, Dr. Joseph Sansolo, Pudgy & Les Iron Came History is a non-profit enterprise. Postmaster: Please send address corrections to: Iron Game History, Subscription, Anna Hiss Gym 107, Stockton, Edward Sweeney, Mark Tenpenny, Irving Tor- The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712. (ISSN 1069-7276) res-Rivera, Lou Tortorelli. 2 APRIL 1996 IRON GAME HISTORY FROM PHILADELPHIA TO YORK: GEORGE JOWETT, MARK BERRY, BOB HOFFMAN, AND THE REBIRTH OF AMERICAN WEIGHTLIFTING, 1927-1936* John Fair, Ph.D. Auburn University at Montgomery Editor’s Note: This article is the final installment of a trilogy on the origins of American weightlifting written by Dr. John Fair, chairman of the history department at AUM. The first two installments appeared in IGH vol. 2 no. 6 (May 1993) and IGH vol. 3 no. 5 (December 1994). If you missed those issues and would like copies, back order information is available on page 28. and Jowett’s conduct of exhibition meets at Milo on a regular basis, Philadelphia became the center of iron game activity.2 That Jowett was unable to sustain his lofty standing may be attribut- ed to his inability to control the commercial and political infras- tructure of weightlifting.